Tin
The solder that joins every electronic component to every circuit board. Supply comes from China, Indonesia, Myanmar, Peru and DR Congo.
Tin-based solders attach GPUs, memory and chips to boards; AI servers carry far more solder joints than standard servers.
Prices for base metals including tin rose about one-third between Jan 2025 and Apr 2026; supply is exposed to Myanmar and DRC disruption.
Where it's produced
Share of 2025 world mine production (metric tons). Source: USGS MCS 2026.
Where the reserves are
Share of known economic reserves (metric tons). World total: 6M t. ≈ 21 years at 2025 output.
Who calls it critical
Membership on each government list. “Strategic” marks a higher tier where the list has one; “group” means included as part of a group such as rare earths or PGMs.
Tin: key questions
- Where is tin mined or produced?
- According to USGS 2025 data, the largest producers are China (24%), Indonesia (21%) and Peru (11%) of world mine production.
- Is tin a critical mineral?
- Tin appears on 8 of the 10 official lists we track (United States, United Kingdom, China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, Canada).
- Is tin in short supply?
- Our supply status: Watch. Prices for base metals including tin rose about one-third between Jan 2025 and Apr 2026; supply is exposed to Myanmar and DRC disruption.
- Why does tin matter for AI infrastructure?
- Tin-based solders attach GPUs, memory and chips to boards; AI servers carry far more solder joints than standard servers.
Related minerals
ExplorerAluminum
WatchLight, conductive and recyclable — used in transmission lines, server chassis, heat sinks and building structures. Made from bauxite (Guinea, Australia).
Copper
DeficitThe metal of electrification. Copper wires the grid, the substation, the busbar and the chip — and it is the single largest mineral input to AI infrastructure.
Silver
WatchThe most electrically conductive element — used in solar cells, electrical contacts, brazing and electronics.